HE 

UNIVEPvSITY OF MISSOUR! 
BULLETIN 

EXTENSION SERIES 

Volume i Number 2 

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT 
AGENCIES 

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENIS 
AND PRINCIPALS 

BY 

W. W. Charters 

Dean of the School of Edtication, University of Missouri 




UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 
July, 1913 



THE 

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 

BULLETIN 



EXTENSION SERIES 

Volume i Number 2 

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT 
AGENCIES 

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENTS 
AND PRINCIPALS 

BY 

W. W. Charters 
Dean of the School of Education^ University of Missouri 




UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 
July, 1913 



v-^p 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 

DISSIPATED ENERGY 

The people of the United States are committed to no 
one national principle so unreservedly and unanimously as 
to that of popular education. This is shown in the amount 
of taxes paid for school purposes, the relative costliness of 
school houses among public buildings and in the sacrifices 
made to keep children in school. 

Superintendents and principals of ward schools, how- 
ever, realize through intimate acquaintance with school pa- 
trons that conditions are not yet by any means ideal, and that 
though much has been done, much remains to do before the 
schools receive the full support which their importance de- 
mands. But in spite of this realization, only a fractional 
part of the interest of school patrons in the welfare of chil- 
dren is at present being utilized. A vast amount of interest 
and energy is being dissipated every year because of lack of 
organization. The interest of mothers and fathers in the 
welfare and schooling of their children is expressed at present 
almost entirely through the payment of school taxes and the 
care of the children in the home. The school board is the 
only channel of expression of this interest in the majority of 
school communities. 

Any agency which can harness and organize this parental 
and civic interest in schools and in education should be util- 
ized to the full by the school teacher, principal and super- 
intendent. 

SOME RESULTS OF ORGANIZED ENERGY IN MISSOURI 

In Maryville an emergency rest room has been estab- 
lished; in Milan a curfew law has been passed; in Elsberry 
sanitary drinking fountains were installed in the school; in 
Irondale money was raised by box suppers to light the school 
house and paint the interior; in Stanberry a "clean-up day" 

(3) 



4 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN 

was organized, and $500 was collected for a sane Fourth; 
in Unionville better sanitary conditions in the school have 
been secured; in St. Louis the school board was taken out of 
politics; and in Kansas City and other cities of the state 
many things which the school board could not do have been 
done by organizing patrons. 

"In a parents' and teachers' meeting the mother learns 
how she is hindering the school work of her children and the 
school at large; discovers that her children cannot live for 
themselves alone if they wish to live in the best way. The 
purely animal mother, not yet beyond the stage of fighting 
for her children, right or wrong, learns, as she listens to the 
discussions, that her child cannot have his rights unless he 
is willing to allow equal rights to others; that the give and 
take of school life is the best of discipline. She finds out 
that only by conformity to the school rules can her boy take 
his rightful place. The heedless parent learns that tardiness 
and absence are not small matters concerning her daughter 
alone, but hindrances to the school, by which her child suffers 
equally with all the rest. The self-centered parent discovers 
that in school, as in life, the good of the whole must be con- 
sidered, and the over-ambitious ones ascertain that some 
kinds of home helps are obstacles to school advancement. 

"On the other hand, the teacher, somewhat over-balanced 
by too much dwelling on system and curricula, finds her sym- 
pathies refreshed by coming into contact with the home rela- 
tions of the children. She realizes more vividly the condi- 
tions under which they must study at home, makes fairer 
allowances for shortcomings, and is often able to suggest 
changes that are most helpful to her charges. The contact 
of untrained mothers with the trained mind of the teacher is 
of incalculable value to the home and to the school." 

These are a few of the advantages that follow when 
superintendents and principals do not depend entirely upon 
the interest of the six busy men who constitute the school 
board. 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 5 

ORGANIZATIONS 

There are several types of organization which may be 
used by school officials for concentrating the dissipated energy 
of interest in schools. These overlap each other somewhat 
because they are each working upon the same problem of 
education. Two of them are women's organizations ; the third 
is composed of both women and men. 

Women's Clubs. — The women's club movement has 
shown remarkable vitality and has expanded during the last 
three decades. The problems it has labored with are multi- 
farious, and much friendly and unfriendly fun has been made 
of its activities. But the far-seeing educator recognizes in 
the movement great potential effectiveness in solving educa- 
tional problems. Women are biologically and historically the 
educators of children. Men are only secondarily interested 
in the education of children, yet they constitute the member- 
ship of school boards in this state. This is the case, however, 
not because of their greater interest in education, but because 
of the accident of politics — since women are not voters in 
this state and, therefore, cannot administer school moneys. 

The woman's club is not primarily interested in the edu- 
cation of children, but it often has a department of education 
through which it comes into touch with school problems and 
frequently does very effective work. 

The women's clubs are organized nationally as "The 
General Federation of Women's Clubs," the Missouri branch 
having many local clubs in affiliation. It has a Department 
of Education, of which Mrs. Henry N. Ess, 2416 Brooklyn 
Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, is chairman. Mrs. Ess and 
her committee are doing efficient work in initiating and sup- 
porting school legislation, in working out educational pro- 
grams for local clubs, and in the giving of scholarships to 
Missouri girls who are fitting themselves for self support. 

Superintendents and principals can get the matters they 
wish to further to the attention of these clubs through Mrs. 



O UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN 

Ess, if they are of state wide interest, and through the local 
clubs if the proposition is purely local. 

Mothers' Clubs. — The Mothers' Club is a form of organi- 
zation whose primary purpose is the improvement of condi- 
tions for the rearing and education of children, both in the 
school and outside. This comprehensive purpose necessitates 
a wide diversity of activities, a fact shown by the presence 
of such departments as Children's Literature, Education, Lit- 
erature for Mothers, Child Hygiene, Juvenile Courts, Child 
Labor, Home Economics, Child Welfare Legislation, Rural 
Child Welfare, Good Roads, and Marriage Sanctity. 

School Patrons' Clubs. — The third type of agency is the 
club composed of both men and women whose primary pur- 
pose is the education of children. 

In many communities these clubs are known as Parent- 
Teacher Associations. As the name indicates, the teacher is 
given an efficient position in the organization and the meet- 
ings are usually held in school buildings. For the most part 
the meetings are held in the afternoon and, hence, are at- 
tended chiefly by mothers, but with frequent evening sessions 
for both men and women. In St. Louis alone there are nearly 
2,000 mothers in such Associations, to say nothing of the 
Patrons' Alliance. 

The Patrons' Alliance of St. Louis is composed of men 
only and has done during its fourteen years of existence a 
remarkable work. It has taken the public schools out of par- 
tisan politics ; has been instrumental in increasing taxes for 
school purposes; and has supplied from its own funds school 
equipment aggregating thousands of dollars. This equipment 
includes such articles as works of reference, stereopticons, 
folding chairs, reflectoscopes, pianos, statuary and pictures. 
One of the pictures given in this way cost $3,500 and another 
is worth $2,000. In addition, it arranges appropriate exer- 
cises for the commemoration of national holidays, aids prin- 
cipals in making necessary arrangements for annual school 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 7 

picnics, Christmas festivals and other school functions and 
exercises. 

The Mothers' Clubs and the Parent-Teacher Circle are 
organized nationally under the title National Congress of 
Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations, with branches in 
thirty-six states. Missouri was organized in March, 1912, 
the President being Mrs. James Nugent, 5847 Maple Avenue, 
St. Louis. Mrs. E. R. Weeks, Vice President of the national 
organization from Missouri, is doing an effective and unselfish 
work in helping to organize and maintain interest in these 
clubs. In the Triennial Handbook of the National Congress 
issued in 1911, local clubs in Missouri in affiliation with the 
national organization are situated in Kansas City, Butler, 
Unionville, Milan, Stanberry and Irondale. For information, 
literature and personal assistance, school officials are invited 
to write to Mrs. E. R. Weeks, 3408 Harrison Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri. 

School Improvement Associations. — Under the leader- 
ship of the state of Maine, local clubs known as School Im- 
provement Leagues, and School Betterment Associations have 
been formed in several states. These have had a rather wide 
development in the southern states, particularly in the rural 
districts. There is no national organization, and in Missouri 
no state organization. Few clubs have been formed, though 
the Kirksville State Normal School has recently through its 
school paper, The Rural School Messenger, been pushing the 
formation of Rural School Improvement Clubs. For infor- 
mation about these associations, the "Year-Book of School 
Improvement in Arkansas," published by Honorable George 
B. Cook, State Superintendent, Little Rock, Arkansas, is 
probably the best. 

Social Centres. — Another form of agency which is fur- 
thering educational interests is the Social Center Movement. 
Here the school is benefited indirectly through the efforts to 
"give the school building its widest range of activity." This 
movement has been recently organized nationally. At present 



b UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN . 

the best source of information is the Social Center Service, 
Farm and Ranch, Dallas, Texas. 

THE USE OF THESE AGENCIES 

In school communities where women's organizations are 
already formed, the Superintendent by co-operation with 
them can frequently get very effective assistance in pushing 
movements for school buildings and sanitary conditions, for 
improvement of equipment, etc., especially where these neces- 
sities can be made to have a popular appeal. Frequently, too, 
the women's clubs have provided money for needed improve- 
ments when the school board could not. The Superintendent 
can get this co-operation both by dealing directly with the 
club leaders and by having strong women teachers take up 
propositions in the clubs to which they belong. What is 
needed in women's clubs is not interest in school affairs; the 
interest merely needs direction. 

In school communities where there are no clubs that are 
available for school purposes, if the Superintendent feels the 
need for them, it is advisable to form clubs in which both men 
and women are represented and whose primary purpose is 
the improvement of school conditions. The membership 
should not be limited to parents only, but should be available 
to all patrons. 

The best unit for organization in cities and towns with 
more than one school building is the district or ward from 
which the children go to one building. The usual meeting 
place is the school building. It is probably wise to have an 
organization for women which meets in the afternoon and one 
for men which meets at night, since school matters which in- 
terest men are not always quite the same as those which in- 
terest women. Joint meetings may be held at which matters 
of common interest are taken up. 

The constitution and machinery should be made as sim- 
ple as possible. The most important committee is that on 
program. On this there should be an active and efficient 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 9 

teacher, either the principal, or some strong member of the 
corps. The other officers should all be patrons. 

OBJECTIONS ARE NOT SERIOUS 

Sometimes superintendents fear that such organizations 
may become officious and do harm to the schools because of 
misguided ignorance of school conditions. This is not a seri- 
ous matter where care is taken in keeping the groups well 
directed. It is not advisable, for instance, to organize such a 
club when the principal or some other teacher who, because 
of age or experience, can take the lead, is not strong enough 
to keep the patrons interested and at work on helpful prob- 
lems. Where reasonable care is taken and ordinary tact is 
used, the members of the club are both willing and anxious 
to be helpful and sympathetic. 

HOW TO ORGANIZE 

When a superintendent and principal agree that a mothers 
and teachers organization should be formed in a school, the 
principal should talk informally to a few energetic women 
about what needs to be accomplished and get their co-opera- 
tion. These women should select a date for the first meeting 
and prepare a list of other women whom they will see in the 
meantime. A general invitation should be sent to all mothers 
and other women likely to be interested. This can be done 
easily by having the children write the invitations as a com- 
position exercise and take it home to their mothers and 
neighbors. Where more than one child in a family is in the 
school, the oldest or the youngest may be selected to write 
the invitation. Sometimes it is advisable to state that ar- 
rangements have been made for a creche, or kindergarten, to 
care for the babies and young children that cannot be left at 
home. 

In order to secure a large attendance, as attractive a pro- 
gram as possible should be prepared. Parents' Day at the 
school may be announced in connection with the opening 
meeting. Have in the assembly room an exhibition of pupils' 



10 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN 

work from the different grades or departments, and this may 
be shown the visitors when they first arrive. Or, a short pro- 
gram may be given in which the different grades contribute 
something — a reading lesson, songs, caHsthenic drills, recita- 
tions and the like. 

After the program has been given, one of those issuing 
the call should state the real purpose of the meeting: to or- 
ganize a Patrons Club, Mothers Club, Parent-Teacher Asso- 
ciation, or whatever form of organization is best suited to the 
community, with the purpose of bringing the home and school 
closer together in order to secure the best training for the 
children. 

A temporary chairman and a secretary should be elected 
to take charge of the meeting. The object of the organization 
should be fully explained by the person who is best informed 
and most enthusiastic. The leader should bring out skillfully 
the need of such an organization in that community, should 
give some of the topics for discussion, point out improve- 
ments which could be made in the school surroundings and, 
if possible, tell what is being done by similar associations and 
something of the scope of this great movement. This may 
be followed by questions, discussions, and expressions from 
parents and teachers as to whether they favor such an organi- 
zation being formed. Motion is made that a club be organized. 
Some one seconds the motion, and the vote is taken. If the 
motion is carried, a committee should be appointed to prepare 
a constitution. The meeting adjourns to a date not later than 
two weeks. 

MODEL CONSTITUTION 

Article I — Name. 

The name of this organization shall be 

Article II — Object. 
The object of this association shall be to further a closer 
sympathy between the school and the home, to the end that 
patrons and teachers may co-operate intelligently in the edu- 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 11 

cation of the children; and to further the cause of education 
in the community. 

Article III — Membership. 

Any parent or teacher in the district and any person in- 
terested in the welfare of children may become a member. 
Article IV — Officers. 

The officers shall consist of a President, a Vice Presi- 
dent, a Secretary and a Treasurer, elected annually at the reg- 
ular meeting in May. 

Article V — Committees. 

There shall be the following standing committees : Mem- 
bership, Program, and such others as shall be deemed neces- 
sary. 

Article VI — Meetings. 

Regular meetings shall be held on the 

of each month. Special meetings may be called by order of 
the President, or upon request of five members. 
Article VII — Amendments. 

This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting 
by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided the 
same has been introduced and discussed at a previous meet- 
ing. 

Article VIII — Departments. 

This organization may have two departments; one for 
men and one for women, to be known as the Men's depart- 
ment of and the Women's department 

of the Each department shall 

have a chairman, a secretary-treasurer and a membership and 
program committee, together with such other committees as 
seem necessary. 



At the second meeting, the officers of the first serve. 
The Secretary reads the minutes of the last meeting, which 
are approved if there are no corrections. 

The Committee on Constitution reports. The Constitu- 
tion is read, amended and adopted. 



12 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN 

Permanent officers are then elected, according to the pro- 
vision in the constitution. Elect a parent as President and 
let the organization be officered largely by the parents and 
teachers assisting in the work. 

Appoint a program committee to prepare meeting pro- 
grams and entertainment programs that will be worth coming 
to hear. A teacher as chairman of this committee would be 
of great assistance. 

Meet every two weeks for the first few meetings until 
the organization is in good working order. The meeting 
should occasionally be held in the evening, so that the fathers 
can attend. 

In order to keep interest alive, immediately appoint some 
committee and set them to work. Give the circle an object 
to work for, perhaps, something to buy for the school, that 
will take and hold the mothers. They will then see some 
actual work going on that will make them feel that the organ- 
ization is worth while. 

ORGANIZING MEN'S DEPARTMENT 

Usually the men's department should be organized after 
the women have been organized, because the women talk 
about it to their husbands. The plan of procedure for or- 
ganizing is similar to that of the women. 

One thing that must be taken care of is that the meeting 
should be as informal as possible. Hold the meetings in some 
place where the men may move around. If a room with 
school seats in it is selected, have as many chairs in the room 
as possible. If the men are to be interested in coming, they 
need to feel a sense of freedom and the absence of formality. 

A lady principal can organize these men's departments 
any carry them out effectively. 

SUGGESTED PROGRAMS 

The program is the factor which makes the success or 
failure of the movement. It is absolutely essential that it 
be crisp and practical. 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 13 

It may be supplemented by having such things as tea 
and wafers for women and patrons teas at private houses, by 
having a baby show, or by having children take part in a pre- 
liminary program. Often attendance is stimulated by the 
hanging of a picture in the school room that has the largest 
number of mothers present at the last meeting. 

Programs are of two sorts — general and local. The Con- 
gress of Mothers provides a series of written lectures upon 
general topics. These can be borrowed for twenty- five cents 
a copy and information about them may be secured by writing 
Mrs. A. A. Birney, 806 Loan and Trust Building, Washington, 
D. C. One of these may be used to good advantage occasion- 
ally. 

The programs for the most part should consist of topics 
that are "up-to-the-minute" among the members. Every year 
there should be certain things chosen which are to be done 
and not merely talked about. The enthusiasm necessary to 
carry these projects through should be generated and main- 
tained by discussions and addresses at the meetings, for as 
soon as the meetings become perfunctory, the attendance will 
dwindle. Tap the interest of the patrons at every meeting. 

For instance, if the school house is unsanitary or the 
grounds unlovely and you wish to improve them through this 
agency, have a tour of inspection, pointing out what is wrong 
and what needs to be done. Have, if possible, an expert to 
show plans for ornamentation, etc., and before the meeting 
is over, see that a committee is organized to do something. 

Or a talk may be given about the amount and kind of 
home study that is best, what help may be given at home, and 
the proper conditions for home study. 

Or a physician may be brought in to talk about some 
definite topic (not too general) such as the prevention of 

colds, etc. 

Or a topic such as the difference between methods of 
teaching now and the time when the parents were in school 
may be discussed. 



14 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN 

Again, in the men's meetings, in addition to the foregoing, 
discussions may be had upon the school rate and the expendi- 
ture of moneys. This may easily form a good place for the 
school board to show what they are doing, and create senti- 
ment for what they want to do. 

The essential and emphatic value of these programs lies 
in their being the means by which plans for betterment of 
school conditions may be carried out. Unless the superinten- 
dent and principal have live plans which they push vigorously 
through the patrons, the organizations are usually not worth 
the trouble. If these school officials have such plans and are 
earnest and energetic themselves, there are no agencies so 
powerful. 

CITY AND STATE UNIONS 

It pays to have a central organization in a city so that 
all the force of the clubs may be turned upon the city prob- 
lems. It is wise, unless prohibited by the slight expense, to 
have a membership in state and national organizations of this 
sort — such as the Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher 
Association. For information concerning the method of se- 
curing membership, write to the National Congress of 
Mothers, Washington, D. C. 

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE 

It is not necessary to have an organizer come in from 
the outside. The method of organization is very simple. In 
case, however, a fund for paying traveling expenses is avail- 
able, the University of Missouri will usually be able to send 
some one to help organize, or Mrs. Weeks, Vice President of 
the Mothers Congress, will be able to help up to the limit of 
the fund she has for the purpose. 

However, do not depend upon outside assistance. If 
you are in earnest and feel that something must be done, de- 
pend upon no one and do it yourself. 

If superintendents and principals wish any information 
not contained in this pamphlet, feel perfectly free to write to 



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES 15 

W. W. Charters, Dean of the School of Education, Univer- 
sity of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. 



THE 

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 

BULLETIN 



EXTENSION SERIES 



EDITED BY 

SAMUEL D. GROMER 
Secretary of University Extension. 



Published by 
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 
Columbia, Missouri 
Issued Quarterly 



Application for entry as second-class matter 
at the postofiBce at Columbia, Missouri, pending. 



Copies of the University of, Missouri Bulletin, Extension 
Series, may be obtained from the Secretary of University Exten- 
sion, Columbia, Missouri. 'Mk^q 



